Toy cannon



sept. 3o, 195s y A. w. HALEY 2,853,990

` TOY CANNON Filed Jan. lO, 1956 2? g3 35 37v l5 26 2.9 j /6 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY My invention relates generally to toy cannons, and specifically to toy cannons in which the discharged projectile is rotated as it is urged on its way.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a toy cannon which discharges a projectile in a forceful and accurate manner.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a toy cannon which discharges a projectile that rotates while traversing the course of its trajectory.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a toy cannon which is simple in form, durable, and relatively inexpensive.

These objects and advantages, as well as other objects and advantages, may be achieved by the device illustrated in the drawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, showing the construction of a toy cannon, cocked, embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the cannon before cooking;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing' a toy cannon cocked, ready to discharge a projectile;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective showing the trigger in restraining position; and

Figure 5 lis a view of the trigger in non-restraining position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my toy cannon 11 has a carriage or support 12 on which is mounted a pair of wheels 13. There is also mounted on this carriage, a trail 14 or support. A tubular barrel 15 is mounted on the carriage 12. The barrel is preferably tubular in form, having a uniform bore with a gradually reduced solid cross section progressing towards the muzzle 16. The breech or rear of the barrel 15 is provided with an axial passage 17 through which a shaft 18 is inserted. A handle 19 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 18. The handle 19 has a striking face 2U. The end of the barrel 15 has a seat 21 adapted to hold an explosive cap. Communicating with this seat 21 is a passage 22 so that when the cap is fired, smoke may proceed through the passage 22 into the barrel 15 and out of the muzzle.

A plate 23 is secured to the inside of the barrel at the end adjacent to the shaft passage 17 and is provided with an aperture aligned with passage 22. The plate 23 has a central square aperture 24. A collar 25 limits the rearward movement of the shaft when it impinges upon the plate 23. The shaft 18 has a square cross section but does not proceed uniformly from one end to the other of the shaft to the other 18 but is twisted so that as the shaft moves through the plate, 23, the square opening 24 in the plate 23 will impart a progressive rotational movement to the shaft 18. Immediately beyond the plate, an angular constriction 26 is formed on the inside of the barrel 15 and defines a seat for a spring 27 which rests thereon. The shaft 18 is capped by a head 28 which substantially conforms to the circular interior of Patented Sept. 30, 1958" the barrel. The head 28V has a plurality of passages' 29 whereby smoke Vin the barrel passing through the passage 22 andi through the constriction 26A may get beyond the head 28- and be discharged from the muzzle 16, imparting a realistic: effect.' when the toy cannon is fired.

The head;` 28' has a ratchet4 face 30. A projectile 3-1: similarly has a corresponding ratchet surface 32 on its rear end and calculated to engage with the ratchet face 30 of the head 28. A trigger 33 is mounted in the barrel 15 between the plate 23 and the constriction 26. The trigger is provided with a transverse slot 34 and has a weighted portion 35 normally causing the transverse slot 34 to enage and obstruct the forward movement of the collar 25 mounted on the shaft 18. This position is sh-own in Figure 4. The end of the trigger 36 extends outside of the barrel 15 and has a transverse passage 37 through which a lanyard 38 is threaded. A pull on the lanyard 38 will overcome the tendency of the weighted portion 35 and will revolve the trigger to the position shown in Figure 5, wherein the collar 25 may move through the transverse slot 34 in the trigger 33. The spring 27, which normally urges the head 28 forward, is thereby released and the collar 25 rides through the trigger passage 34 and through the constriction 26 as the head 28 is pressed forward by the spring 27. The projectile 31 is expelled from the muzzle 16. Since the shaft 18 has a twisted square cross section, as it moves through the plate 23, the shaft twists. The twisting movement is imparted to the projectile 31 through the engagement of the ratchet 32 and the ratchet 30 and the projectile is given a spinning motion as it moves through its trajectory, thereby insuring greater accuracy than would have been achieved by a non-spinning projectile.

In order to cock the cannon, the handle 19 is grasped and pulled to the rear. The-spring 27 has one end seated on the constriction 26 and the other end engaged with the head 28. The spring 27 is compressed and the collar 25 which is keyed to the shaft 18 moves rearwardly as the handle 19 is pulled rearwardly. When the collar 25 passes through the slot 34 the edge of the trigger 33 drops down behind the collar 25 by reason of the impulse imparted to it by the weight 35, the trigger 33 engages the collar 25 and holds the cannon cocked, ready to be tired. A pull on the lanyard 38 overcomes the weight 35, rotates the trigger, 33, and permits the head 28 to spring forward, ejecting the projectile 31. A cap in the seat 21 will be struck by the face 20 of the handle and the smoke of the explosion will traverse through the several passages and be emitted from the barrel muzzle 16 of the gun cannon. The foregoing description is intended merely to be illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, for many changes may be made in the construction, selection and arrangement of the parts all within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

A toy cannon comprising a barrel with a muzzle and a breech having a passage therethrough; a non-circular shaft having a uniform, cross-section twisted in one direction from end to end positioned in the passage with one end in the barrel and the opposite end outside the breech, a handle on the end of the shaft outside the breech, a head on the end of the shaft inside the barrel, a plate positioned in the -barrel having an aperture conforming to the shaft which passes through it, a spring normally urging the head toward the muzzle, a raised portion on the head adapted to aiirmatively engage a projetcile, an enlargement on the shaft, a trigger member in the barrel having a passage for the enlargement to move through, a weighted portion on the trigger member normally gravitationally tending to rotate the trigger member to engage the edge of the passage in the trigger member with the enlargement, a means for rotating the trigger member to disengage the enlargement whereby it moves through the passage in the trigger member, a seat on the breech adapted to receive a cap, said seat positioned to be engaged by the handle when the shaft is urged to its limit by the spring, said breech having a passage therethrough communicating with the seat and the head having a passage therethrough from front to back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Beck Oct. 28,

Rhodes Aug. 16,

Bowen Aug. 29,

Szlandyi June 29,

Larson Nov. 17,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain oct. 1, 

